Padres Insider: Playoff run possible?

San Diego Padres' Carlos Quentin connects for an RBI single against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game on Sunday, July 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
— AP

San Diego Padres' Carlos Quentin connects for an RBI single against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game on Sunday, July 28, 2013, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
/ AP

They signed two key free agent pitchers this winter and made a trade that should bolster their attack against right-handed pitching.

But have they done enough to become a playoff team? And, if not in 2014, when?

Actually, there is a chance the Padres could mirror the gains of the Chargers this season.

Both wildcard teams on the AFC end of the NFL playoffs came out of the AFC West. Could that happen in the National League in 2014?

The West could be the strongest division in the National League. The Dodgers will be heavily favored to win the division and the Giants look improved.

But the Padres also believe they could, given good health, post a winning record for the first time since 2010. If they do, the Padres would be in the hunt for the second wildcard berth.

The biggest question facing the Padres is one of health. If they are healthy, the Padres – on paper – have the tools to make a run. From the All-Star break of 2012 to the All-Star break of 2014 – the Padres ranked in the top third in the National League in runs scored. And the starting pitching improved dramatically over the second half of last year.

All had injury issues in 2013 and in the case of Quentin, Maybin, Blanks, Forsythe, Luebke, Johnson and Street, the issues pre-date the 2013 season.

There is even a small question regarding Chase Headley.

There is some issue with 40 percent of the players on the projected Opening Day roster. If all are healthy, the Padres should challenge for a playoff spot. If not, expect changes before the season ends.

Because the future is looking brighter. The Padres got through the off-season without trading away any of their promising young starting pitchers. And they also are developing some promising position players in catcher Austin Hedges, second baseman Cory Spangenberg and outfielders Rymer Liriano and Hunter Renfroe.

If the Padres are in the playoff hunt coming out of the All-Star break, management says there will be resources to improve the roster. If not, look for the Padres to look to move the likes of Headley and Street and possibly two or three starting pitchers.

Adding to the mix

Since signing free agent, right-handed reliever Joaquin Benoit, the Padres have added five players to minor league contracts with four getting an invitation to spring training. A look at each:

OF-1B Xavier Nady: Originally a second-round pick of the Padres in 2000, Nady hit .263 with 25 homers in 775 at-bats with the Padres. A career .270 hitter over 10 major league seasons, Nady makes the club as the right-handed-hitting 1B-OF reserve if Kyle Blanks is again injured and Tommy Medica can’t play in the outfield. Nady hit .296 in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League last season.